Opportunity Information: Apply for SFOP0009104

Supporting International Election Security with Counter-Disinformation Technology (Funding Opportunity Number SFOP0009104) is a U.S. Department of State grant competition run through the Bureau of Global Public Affairs. It is a discretionary funding opportunity, meaning awards are made competitively based on how well an applicant's proposal aligns with the program goals and evaluation criteria. The award instrument is a cooperative agreement, which usually signals that the Department of State expects to have substantial involvement during the life of the project, such as coordinating on priorities, milestones, deliverables, or public-facing activities rather than simply providing funds and stepping back.

The central purpose of the opportunity is to strengthen international election security by boosting the ability of key stakeholders to use technology to counter foreign disinformation linked to elections outside the United States. In practical terms, the program is aimed at improving the real-world capacity of organizations and communities that play a role in elections and the information environment to detect, analyze, and respond to coordinated false or misleading narratives that may be spread by foreign actors to influence voter perceptions, undermine trust in electoral processes, or create confusion around election administration. The emphasis on "technological capabilities" suggests solutions such as monitoring and detection tools, rapid analysis workflows, information sharing systems, and other technical or tech-enabled approaches that help stakeholders move faster and act more effectively against disinformation.

The opportunity was released on July 15, 2022, with an original application deadline of August 26, 2022. The program anticipated making one award, with a maximum funding level (award ceiling) of up to $1,500,000. Because only one award was expected, the competition was likely structured to support a single, relatively comprehensive project or platform with enough scale to be deployed across multiple contexts or to support a broad stakeholder network.

Eligibility is listed broadly as "Others" under the federal eligibility category, which typically indicates that the opportunity may be open beyond a narrow class of applicants, but that specific eligibility rules are explained in the full announcement's eligibility section. The listing also includes the CFDA number 19.040, which is the Department of State's public diplomacy programs catalog identifier, reinforcing that this opportunity sits within the State Department's broader public diplomacy and information environment work.

In short, this grant opportunity funds a technology-forward initiative intended to help partners abroad better defend elections from foreign disinformation by improving the tools, systems, and practical capacity needed to identify harmful narratives, understand how they spread, and coordinate timely responses that protect electoral integrity and public trust.

  • The Department of State, Bureau of Global Public Affairs in the other (see text field entitled explanation of other category of funding activity for clarification) sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Supporting International Election Security with Counter-Disinformation Technology" and is now available to receive applicants.
  • Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 19.040.
  • This funding opportunity was created on Jul 15, 2022.
  • Applicants must submit their applications by Aug 26, 2022. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
  • Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $1,500,000.00 in funding.
  • The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 1 candidate(s).
  • Eligible applicants include: Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification).
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What is the name of this funding opportunity?

The opportunity is titled "Supporting International Election Security with Counter-Disinformation Technology."

What is the Funding Opportunity Number (FON)?

The Funding Opportunity Number is SFOP0009104.

Which U.S. government agency is offering this grant competition?

This is a U.S. Department of State grant competition.

Which bureau is running the competition?

The competition is run through the Bureau of Global Public Affairs.

What type of funding opportunity is this?

It is a discretionary funding opportunity. That means awards are made through a competitive selection process, based on how well an application aligns with the program goals and the evaluation criteria described in the announcement.

What award instrument will be used?

The award instrument is a cooperative agreement.

What does a cooperative agreement imply for project management?

A cooperative agreement generally indicates the Department of State expects substantial involvement during the project period. Based on the description provided, this could include coordination on priorities, milestones, deliverables, and/or public-facing activities, rather than simply providing funding without ongoing engagement.

What is the central purpose of the program?

The core purpose is to strengthen international election security by improving the ability of key stakeholders to use technology to counter foreign disinformation connected to elections outside the United States.

Is this program focused on U.S. elections?

No. The program focus is on elections outside the United States, specifically where foreign disinformation may seek to influence voter perceptions, undermine trust, or create confusion related to election administration.

What kind of disinformation is this program trying to address?

The emphasis is on coordinated false or misleading narratives linked to elections that may be spread by foreign actors to influence voter views, weaken confidence in electoral processes, or disrupt understanding of election administration.

What does "counter-disinformation technology" mean in practical terms for this opportunity?

Based on the description, it points to technology-forward or tech-enabled approaches that improve real-world capacity to detect, analyze, and respond to disinformation. Examples suggested by the text include monitoring and detection tools, rapid analysis workflows, and information-sharing systems that help stakeholders respond faster and more effectively.

What outcomes is the program trying to achieve?

The stated intent is to boost stakeholders' practical capacity to identify harmful narratives, understand how they spread, and coordinate timely responses that protect electoral integrity and public trust.

How many awards were anticipated?

The program anticipated making one award.

What is the maximum funding amount available?

The award ceiling is up to $1,500,000.

Does the fact that only one award is anticipated suggest anything about project scope?

Yes. With one expected award and a relatively high ceiling, the competition appears designed to support a single, comprehensive project or platform with enough scale to be deployed across multiple contexts or to support a broad stakeholder network.

When was the opportunity released?

The opportunity was released on July 15, 2022.

What was the original application deadline?

The original application deadline was August 26, 2022.

Who is eligible to apply?

Eligibility is listed broadly as "Others" under the federal eligibility category. This typically suggests the opportunity may be open beyond a narrow class of applicants, but the specific eligibility rules are stated in the full announcement's eligibility section.

What is the CFDA number associated with this opportunity?

The listing includes CFDA number 19.040.

What does CFDA 19.040 indicate about the program area?

CFDA 19.040 is identified as the Department of State's public diplomacy programs catalog identifier, which aligns this opportunity with the Department's broader public diplomacy and information environment efforts.

What kinds of stakeholders are meant to benefit from this program?

The description refers to "key stakeholders" involved in elections and the broader information environment, with an emphasis on organizations and communities that need stronger real-world capability to detect, analyze, and respond to foreign election-related disinformation.

What role does technology play in the program's approach?

Technology is positioned as the primary lever for increasing capacity, including tooling and systems that support monitoring, detection, rapid analysis, and coordinated information sharing so stakeholders can act effectively against disinformation.

What is the overall goal in plain language?

The goal is to fund a technology-forward initiative that helps partners abroad better defend elections from foreign disinformation by strengthening tools, systems, and practical capacity to respond quickly and protect trust in elections.

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